Strangers On A Train (BD) [Blu-ray]

Awarding four out of five stars, Alfred Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train is a masterclass in psychological suspense, anchored by a truly magnetic villain performance. The film kicks off with one of cinema's most ingenious high concepts: two strangers meet, and one proposes they swap murders, leaving no discernible motive for either. Robert Walker is utterly captivating as the charmingly psychotic Bruno Antony, whose unsettling charisma and relentless pursuit of the deal drive the film's chilling momentum and completely outshine Farley Granger's more subdued protagonist. While some plot contrivances and supporting characters feel less developed than in Hitchcock's very best work, the director's signature tension is palpable throughout, particularly in iconic sequences like the tense tennis match or the climactic carousel confrontation. It's a thrillingly dark ride that, despite a few minor stumbles, remains a highly effective and brilliantly conceived entry in the suspense genre.